White Water Rafting Guide School 2016

Commercial River Guide Course and Certification

White Water Rafting Guide School 2016

Our intensive White Water Rafting Guide School on the American River is a six-day workshop designed for those wishing to gain employment as commercial river guides and private rafters wanting to gain knowledge and increase their skills of safe rafting techniques for their own use. Emphasis is placed on learning to read whitewater, Class III-IV safety techniques, some of the swift water rescue skills (does not include swift water rescue certification), boat handling, camp cooking, river safety and conservation, and the methods of providing an excellent, safe, and fun river trip. Many of our students just want to be on the river for six days!

Basic instruction will be given on the South Fork American River.If water levels permit, we may also raft the North or Middle Fork of the American River. We have a 4-5:1 student to instructor ratio.

Professional Educators

The Commercial River Guide Course is conducted by several of the Mariah Wilderness Expeditions’ top core guides who have been professionally training new guides for many years. Basic instruction will be given at Mariah’s campground on the South Fork American River one hour east of Sacramento in the Sierra foothills. The South Fork is 21 miles in length and has over 50 rapids – each offering a unique learning opportunity. It is considered the best river in California on which to develop guiding skills. Evenings will be spent in a “classroom-like setting”, learning more details about river anatomy, knots, first aid and repair, rigging oar boats, etc. Each participant completing and passing the course will receive a Certificate of Completion.

IN ADDITION:

On your own you will need CPR and First Aid certification (you can obtain these online).
Swift Water Rescue certification is required for all second-year guides. You will learn more about this during the guide school.

Instructions

Anatomy of the river – reading the rapids

Teamwork and leadership skills

Safety on the river – hand signals

Boating gear and equipment

Commercial river operations

Customer service – safety talks and guide “chatter”

Whitewater paddling techniques

River etiquette guidelines

Problems, emergencies, advanced river rescues

Knots and riggings

Natural and the local history of the river

Meal Preparation

Job requirements

Required guide equipment

Life of a river guide

Details

May 21-26
6 Days and 6 Nights
Meet 9:00AM 5/21.
Courtesy camping the night of 5/20 is included.
(You are on your own for dinner on 5/20 and breakfast on 5/21).

The Commercial River Guide Course Includes

Guide School Manual,

Camping at Mariah, 6 night, 5/20-25,

Scenic campground,

Day and evening instruction,

Most meals 5/21 Lunch – 5/26 Lunch,

River equipment such as life jacket and spray jacket.

Things To Bring
Bring your tent and sleeping bag or, you may rent them from us
($25 ea. for the week).
You must also bring your own wetsuit or dry suit.
You may rent a wetsuit and booties from us ($25 for the week).